Sherrington: Long odds? Sure ... but here's why you can't give up on the Mavericks - yet

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Vernon Bryant/Staff Photographer

Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) with his head down after missing a field goal attempt late in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of play in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2012 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Thunder defeated the Mavericks 102-99 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

First, to the question of the moment: Can a team down
0-2 still come back to win a playoff series?

Answer: You’re really not making me bring up the ’06 Mavs-Heat and the parade
route column, are you?

Yes, the Mavs should have won either or both of the first two games in
Oklahoma City. Now they must win four of five. You’d probably like a little more
leeway before betting the kids’ college money.

But even facing those odds, nothing has happened in the series so far that
should make you believe the Mavs are incapable of at least getting through the
first round. A repeat? Now that’s a column for another day. Try to remain
positive. Judging by the fact that the Rangers are drawing more viewers, many of
you have already given up on the Mavs, figuring, justifiably so, that management
did first.

If they don’t win each of the next two, you have my permission to watch the
Rangers test Buck Showalter’s mighty Orioles next week. Give the Mavs the rest
of this week, anyway.

Consider that they’ve lost two games by a total of four points, on the road,
in a hostile environment.

Oklahoma City can’t take any great comfort in anything except being up, 2-0,
which, granted, beats the Mavs’ plight.

But for all the talk about the Thunder winning without the benefit of great
performances from Kevin Durant, exactly who besides Dirk Nowitzki has been
lights out for the Mavs?

Shawn Marion is averaging 16 points and playing terrific defense on
Durant.

Other than that, Jason Terry had a good half in Game 1.

Ever since Scott Brooks put Russell Westbrook on him, Terry has struggled. He
can’t shake Westbrook. Can’t even get open. He’ll need screens. He’ll also need
to be patient and stop rushing off-balance shots while trying to avoid
Westbrook, who’s been great on both sides of the ball.

For that matter, the Mavs must stop settling for so many jumpers in general.
If this sounds like an old complaint, it should. They changed their style last
season, driving, taking fouls, getting to the line, especially late in games. I
like the Mavs’ chances when they’re standing at the free throw line.

From 25 feet under pressure? Not so much.

A half-court attack also works better against the young Thunder. The
throw-back Mavs can’t afford a full-court game. Nothing gums up the works like
free throws.

Nowitzki can lament his missed 3-pointer near the end of Game 2, a shot that
would have put the Mavs up four, or the fadeaway that teased and frustrated late
like an old burlesque show.

What Nowitzki must do, what he did in the first half of Game 2 to help
overcome a 16-point deficit, is draw fouls. Same for Terry and Vince Carter.
It’s a little hard to do from way out on the 3-point line, where defenders
generally aren’t foolish enough to whack away.

Once again, do I need to remind you of how the Heat won in ’06?

And while we’re talking about life in the lane, it’s about time the Mavs’
centers showed up.

Most of all, they need to have the back of their superstar. They can’t allow
Kendrick Perkins to mug Nowitzki. They can’t depend on the refs to keep him
safe, either.

Not that anyone’s advocating violence, but the general rule in sports is that
if you rough up our superstar, we’ll rough up yours.

Here’s a hockey analogy, if you can believe it: When Mike Modano was whipping
around the ice, carving delicate figure 8’s and making Dick Button jealous, a
big brute of a guy always lurked in the background. If a movie had been made
about the Stars’ 1999 Stanley Cup season, one of Tony Soprano’s boys could have
played Derian Hatcher. He made sure Modano practiced his artistry without undue
interference, you might say.

Nobody’s running interference for Nowitzki these days. He’s having to fend
for himself, and it’s simply not his nature. He’s a shooter, not a fighter.

And never mind that Brendan Haywood, Ian Mahinmi and Brandan Wright don’t
match up with Perkins or Serge Ibaka. It doesn’t mean they can’t set a tone.
They need only be more physical; they’re not going to have to settle anything in
the alley.

If Rick Carlisle gets a little more from the above, the Mavs can get right
back in this series. As an old sports maxim relates, the playoffs don’t start
until someone loses at home. A win on Thursday and all’s good. Lose, and it’s
all Yu, all the time.

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About Kevin Sherrington

Kevin Sherrington, a general sports columnist, was born in Dallas and grew up in Houston. He has worked at five newspapers in Texas. He has worked at The Dallas Morning News since 1985. He had no idea his career would come to blogging.